Learning Benefits

Trace each family member's hands. Include grandparents, cousins, and other extended family members. Together, cut out the hands.

Create art with your hand cut-outs. Invite your child to glue the hands onto a sheet of paper to create different patterns and objects. The hands can become a flower, a butterfly, a spider, or a fish, for instance.

Play a counting game. Cut out more hands and decorate them. Ask your child to count hands, fingers, and thumbs. Invite him to place the hands in size order from smallest to largest.

Provide art materials so your child can decorate the hand cut-outs. Notice how she decorates the hands and talk about the designs.